The truth is, [solo]

[redshiftreign]

The game was rigged from the start.

"what's the point 'a bein' a warriors anyway, bigman?" emberkit chirped, prancing on delicate paws after the grey-and-white rosetted warrior, a wide grin fixed on her muzzle. "like, what do ya do? Fight an' hunt an' kill and whatnot, right? i want to do that!"

[redshiftreign]

Eveningthaw grunted, irritation climbing up his spine as the pathetic whelp of a child doted on him, trotting after his heel like an abandoned puppy.

"What's the point?" he echoed, annoyance crawling up his throat like a spider. "The point is protectin' your clan and keeping everyone safe. The point is getting to be welcomed into the stars with open arms, an' watching over your clan after death."

[redshiftreign]

the big warrior's irritation either went unnoticed or uncared for as emberkit trotted after him, staring up with wide eyes.

"int'a the stars?" she echoed skeptically, her tail swishing. "like, the sky?" she clarified, gaze upturning to the mid-day blue sky, the clouds seeming so very far away. one day, she'd be tall enough to stand on her hind legs and reach up and ensnare the world between her paws, holding them close forever more. protect. that was one word that really rung close to home with ember. she could understand that part. she wanted to protect- just like char wanted to protect. she wanted to protect in a different way- or. . . maybe it was the same.

[redshiftreign]

Eveningthaw uttered a silent prayer to StarClan, begging for this bloodless scrap to let him be. He had hunting patrols to run and borders to patrol. More than that, he had trouble to dispose of.

On that thought, youth were still star-eyed and fresh. A taste of the real world wouldn't hurt.

"A warrior protects their clan and fights for those who can't." he said, gaze turning down to the kitten as he paused his footsteps. "It is a warrior's duty to make the hard choices that will let their clan, RiverClan, thrive. A good warrior does what is right, even if it will risk themself."

[redshiftreign]

"huh." emberkit breathed, looking around the camp. did what was right, no matter what. her tail curled impassably, head canting slightly to the side. "how do you. . . know what's right and wrong?"

it was such a simple question. how do you know. how do you tell what's good and bad? where is the line drawn, and where is it blurred.

even emberkit new that, certainly there wasn't just some black and white.

[redshiftreign]

"The warrior code," Eveningthaw informed decisively, letting his haunches drop to sit, a cursory lick spared to his thick chest fur. With great amusement, he watched the she-kit mirror the motion.

"The Warrior Code tells us what is right and what is wrong, and what is unspoken is left for us to decide. Many cats fight over such things, but we all know what is true because of the code."

[redshiftreign]

emberkit's head canted, confused. "well, how do you know that the warrior code is right? how do you know that it's not made up?"

[redshiftreign]

An innocent question, really. But one that, unknown to her, would strike a nerve in the massive and- frankly, god-like -in comparison warrior.

Eveningthaw sneered, turning his mighty head away from the whelp.

"Because the stars told us, that's why. StarClan says it is true, and so it must be. I trust my ancestors more than any living breathing cat." admonished the tom, curling his tail neatly around his flank.

[redshiftreign]

emberkit did not wilt under the scorn. if anything, it stoked the fire. "well how do you know the stars told you?" she countered, "do the stars talk? i've never seen a star talk. if stars can talk, can rocks talk? trees? do you think mice talk?"

[redshiftreign]

"Sometimes," Eveningthaw began tersely, chin raised to gaze pointedly at the clouds, "The stars do talk. To medicine cats or to leaders, or even just regular warriors. In dreams, sometimes. In wake, more rarely."

An irritated tail flick betrayed him.

"And no. Rocks and prey do not speak. The stars are special, like cats. Because each star is a warrior ancestor up there, watching."